Posted on: Sunday, February 6, 2005
Lunch with 'pandanus tree' is rarely lavish
By Ka'öhua Lucas
"I've only got five bucks, Babe," my husband apologized, digging deep into the pockets of his Levi action slacks. "Do you have any money?"
"Wait a minute," I said, coming to an abrupt halt on a corner in downtown Honolulu. "I thought you were the one who invited me to lunch."
He grinned, eyes dancing with mischievousness.
"Let's see. Where can I take you with this $5 wad?"
I was immediately reminded of our first date nearly 16 years ago. He had invited me to lunch with only $5 to splurge.
We ended up at a little hole in the wall. The lighting there was so dim I feared the management had intentionally muted it to hide the many varmints lurking in the crevices of the eatery.
Feeling sorry for my date, I ordered a grilled cheese sandwich at $1.95 and a glass of water.
I later reflected on our outing and came to the conclusion that he was thrifty with his money. He was certainly not trying to impress me with a lavish luncheon he could ill afford.
Boy, did he have me fooled.
As we began walking in the direction of his office, I asked where we were going for lunch.
"Looks like $5 won't buy you a meal, huh," he teased. "Guess I'm going to have to ask my dad to borrow some money."
In Mary Kawena Pukui's book, 'Olelo No'eau: Hawaiian Proverbs and Poetical Sayings, there is a wise saying that describes a stingy person.
He pu hala uo'o.
Translated, it means a tough (old) pandanus tree. Pu hala is a play on the name of a man named Puhalahua who lived in Hawai'i in the 1800s.
Puhalahua was known for his diligence and thriftiness in saving for his senior years.
My husband is not at all thrifty. The fact is he is extremely generous.
But when we're together, for some reason, he feigns he has no money and immediately holds his palm out for some quick cash.
As we approached the bank of elevators in his office building, I confessed that I had not a cent in my wallet.
We rode the elevator to his office so that he could collect his bank card. We made our way to another little hole in the wall that was much classier and its food way tastier.
Just before finishing our meal, the waiter slipped my husband the meal chit. My husband lifted the bill from the plastic tray and scanned for the damage.
I watched his expression, his eyes growing wide in their sockets.
"Geez, Babe," he groaned.
"What?" I asked. "It can't be that much. I tried to stay under five bucks."
He handed me the chit; $10.42 was scrawled on the lower right-hand corner of the tab.
"Hey," he paused, grinning. "You're worth it, Babe!"
Reach Ka'ohua Lucas at Family Matters, 'Ohana section, The Honolulu Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802 or at ohana@honoluluadvertiser.com.
